Attachment for internal-combustion engines



F b, 3, 1925. l 1,525,073

D. N. FONTENOT ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June'l7, 1924 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Suva-idea V fizz/77a 1 5459795 Feb. 3, 1925. 1,525,073

D. N. FONTENOT ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGTNES v Filed June 1'7, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l v 28 :gfi 24/ 3 57 fie 29 I 6 Z5 9 r 5 g6 30 a9 lllllf/ A9 i i .-I TTORNEY Patented Feb. 3, 1925,

ems s'rnras DUMA PATENT QFFICE.

Nu EQNTENOT, OLE MAT/IOU, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF 'IO FRANK C.

ronrnnor', or vnann PLATTE, LOUISIANA.

ATTACHMENT FQ'R INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed June 17, 1934. Serial No. 720,636.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DUMA N. Fon'rnno'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mamou, in the parish of Evangeline and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference' being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to attachments for internal combustion engines and more particularly to an attachment cleaning the spark plugs of the engine during operation "thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character utilizing the pressure andheat of the exhaust gases for this purpose.

A still further ob ect of theinvention is to provide a device of this character which may be readily operated by the opcrator of a self-propelled vehicle without leaving his seat in the car;

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device having ducts connecting the interior spark plugs abovethe spark gap thereof with the exhaust manifold and a valve controlling said ducts and capable of simultaneously cutting off all of the ducts in any one of a plurality of positions.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein: Figure 1. is a perspective view showing apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention -applied to an internal combustion engine, but one of the spark plugs being shown in position in the'engine;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the control valve;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view therethrough Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through a spark plug of the type employed;

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally indicates an internal combustion engine, 11 the exhaust manifold thereof, and 12 the spark plugs of the engine. In accordance with my invention these spark plugs preferably have the shell 13 thereof elongated between the shoulder forming a seat for the porcelain 14 and the lower end thereof, the interior of the shell being in spaced relation to the adjacent wall of the procelain to provide a chamber 15. Through the shell 15 engaged one member of a coupling 16, which member communicates with the chamber 15. I V The exhaust. manifold has formed therein an opening 17 in which is engaged a nipple 18 formed axially on the lower end of a hollow casing 19 having a downwardly tapering bore opening through the upper end thereof. Disposed within this. casing is a rotatable sleeve 20 fitting the'bore the lower end of the sleeve being open and communicating with the bore 21 of the nipple 18. The upper end of the sleeve is closed and provided with a restricted axial extension 22. The upper outer surface of the casing '19 is threaded to receive the flange 23 of a cap 24, which cap has a cen' tral opening 25 rotatably receiving the ex tension'22 so that the sleeve by engagement with this extension may be rotated within the casing.

The casing has formed therein a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 26 corresponding in number to the spark plugs 12. In the wall of the sleeve an opening 27 is formed which by rotation of thissleeve is selectively alignable with any of the openings 26 of the casing, the openings 26 of the casing being preferably spaced so that when the opening 27 is positioned between any two'given openings it confronts the wall of the casing and is sealed.- In each of theopenings 26 is engaged. one member of a coupling 28, the

' remaining members of the couplings 16 and 28 being carried by a conduit 29 preferably in the form of a copper tube. V w

The means for controlling the valve preferably include a dial 30 positioned upon the dash having coacting therewith a pointer 31 secured to one end of a shaft 32, the opposite end of the shaftbeing connected tothe extension 22 through a universal joint 33. It will be obvious that by rotating the pointer to align the same with the indicia of a selected cylinder, the sleeve will be positioned with its openings 27 aligned with the openings 26 connected with the spark plug of the corresponding cylinder and that accordingly; the pressure and heat of theexhaust gases from the manifold 11 Will be transmittedfthrough the valve, formed by the casing 19 and sleeve 20, and the conduit 29 to the spark plug above the gap between the sparking terminals 3% thereof. During the intake stroke of the engine these gases will rush downwardlypast thespark plug points with great force removing therefrom the collection of carbon ,or be interfering with the proper operation of the plug. The plugs having been cleaned, the pointer may-be: brought to rest midway between any two of the indicia of the dial 30 and .willtin this position cutoff communi cation between the exhaust and the spark plugs permitting operation of the engine in the" ordinary manner.

It will be obvious that the specific construction hereinbef ore set forth is capable of a" certain range, of change and niodifi-' cation without in any manner departing from the spirit of my invention and I accordingly do not limit myself to such specitic structure except as hereinafter claimed.

1. In van attachment for internal combustion engines and incomhination with the spark plugs and manifoldof the engine, a valve receiving exhaust gases from the ex haust manifold and having outlet ports corresponding in number and arrangement to the spark plugs and communicating with the spark plugs above the spark gaps thereof, andmeans for operating said valve totdirect exhaust gases through a selected outlet thereof to thereby cleanse the spark points of a selected spark plug. t

Eu -In an attachment for internal combustion engines and iii-combination with the spark. .plugszand exhaust manifold of theengine, a cylindrical casing communicating at one end :with the. exhaust manifold a sleeve disposed within the casing and havingits lower end open and thereby in comvmunication; with. the exhaust manifold, the

wall of the casing having outlets correspond ng n number and arrangement to the spark plugs of the engine, the sleeve havlng a single opening-alignable by. rotation of theosleeve withany fot the openings of the casing a connection between the openings of the casing and the. spark plugs above the spark gaps thereof, and means for rotating said. sleeve;

In an attachment for internal combustion enginesv and in combination with the spark :plugsand exhaust manifold of the engine, a cylindrical casing communicating at one end with the (exhaust manifold, a

sleevedisposed within the casing and hav 1ng its lower end open and thereby n comjmunicat on with the exhaust manifold, the

wall of .the casing having outlets eorre spending-in number and arrangement to the spark -plugsgof theengine, theyi sleeve having oil which may spark gaps thereof, and ine'ansfor rotating said sleeve, the opening of said sleevcbeing vof a diameter less thanv the space between adjacent openings of the casing.

4. In an attachment for intern'al combustion engines and in combination with the spark plugs and exhaust manifold of the engine, a cylindrical casing communicating at one end with the exhaust manifold, a

sleeve disposed within the casing and having its lower end open and thereby in communi cation with the exhaust manifold, the wall of the casing having outlets corresponding in number and arrangement ,to the spark plugs of the engine, the sleeve having a single opening alignable by rotation of the sleeve with any of the openings of the easing, a connection between the openingsof the casing and the spark plugs above the sp'ark gaps thereof, means forrotating said sleeve including a rod having universal con- P nection with theupper end of the sleeve, a pointer carried by the free end of the rod, and a dial with which the pointer coacts.

5. In an attachment for internal combustion engines and in combination with the spar a: plugs and exhaust manifold of the engine, the exhaust manifold having a thread-' ed opening formed therein, a cylindrical casing having its upper end open and providcd upon its lower end with a threaded lug for engagement in the opening of the manifold, the lug having a borefa sleeve having a closed upper end and an open lower end disposed within and rotatably fit ting the interior of the casing the casing having openings corresponding in number to the spark plugs of the engine and each in communication with a spark plug of the engine through the shell thereof at a point above the spark gap of the plug, the sleeve having a single opening alignable by rotation of the sleeve with any of the openings of the casing, the casing being exteriorl threaded upon its upper end, the shell hav ing upon its upper end an axial lug, a cap 7 forthe casing having a central opening through which said lug extends, and means engaged with the lug and rotating the sleeve.

6. In an attachment for internal combustion engines and in combination with the spark plugs and exhaust manifold of the engine; the exhaust. manifold having a threaded opening formed therein, acylindrical ca's ing having its-upper end open and provided upon its lower end with a threaded lug for engagement in the opening ofthe manifold, the lug having a bore, a sleeve having a closed upper end and an open lower end disposed within and rotatably v fitting the interiorof the casing, the casing having openings corresponding in number to the spark plugs of the engine and each in communication with a spark plug of the engine through the shell thereof at a point above the spark gap of the plug, the sleeve having a single opening align'able by rotation of the sleeve With any of the openings of the casing, the casing being exteriorly threaded upon its upper end, the shell having upon its upper end an axial lug, a cap for the casing having a central opening through which said lug extends, means engaged with the lug and rotating the sleeve comprising a rod universally connected with the lug at one end, apointer carried by the opposite end of the rod, an operating handle for the rod, and a dial with which the pointer coaets.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

DUMA N. FONTENOT. 

